Marine Headquarters, Marineford!
An unprecedented war sparked by Fire Fist Ace is raging!
However, on the frozen battlefield, the Pirate Empress—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—stunned the world!
The Pirate Queen, Boa Hancock, was fighting alone against not only Dracule "Hawkeye" Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman, but also Flower Sword Vista, captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Fifth Division!
Hancock's flawless face was filled with rage. Her fingertips shot out dozens of heart-shaped arrows one after another.
The sweet wind howled, the Captive Arrows launched continuously, and her overwhelming aura shook the battlefield.
All three forms of Haki burst out in full force.
The Empress's furious attacks were so strong they even petrified the ice beneath her!
More shocking still—Hawkeye Mihawk, the world's number one swordsman, and Flower Sword Vista, a famed swordsman of the New World, could only dodge awkwardly under Hancock's fierce assault!
For the first time, Boa Hancock displayed her terrifying strength before the world as the only female pirate among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
She truly deserved the title of Pirate Queen!
"Boa Hancock, stop being unreasonable. I have no interest in fighting you," Mihawk said coldly, his hawk-like eyes fixed on her. He had joined this war only to measure his strength against the world's strongest—not to clash with a fellow Warlord.
"Pirate Queen, this is a duel between swordsmen. Do not interfere!" Vista barked, annoyed. He had finally gained a chance to cross swords with Mihawk. War or no war, he would not tolerate being interrupted.
"Ahhh! Hawkeye, Vista—you hurt the one I love most! You think you can just walk away from this?" Hancock's voice thundered with fury.
Her beloved, Victor, had been gravely injured. That was something she could never forgive.
Mihawk and Vista finally understood.
Their earlier clash of blades… had accidentally wounded the man Hancock loved!?
They turned their eyes to the ice in the distance, where Victor lay bloodied and motionless.
He looked so weak.
The redirected slash hadn't even been at full strength. A man with any battle instinct could have dodged it.
Yet he had been struck down.
How weak was he!?
The most beautiful woman in the world—the Pirate Queen Boa Hancock—was in love with… that!?
The thought wasn't just shared by Mihawk and Vista. Marines and pirates alike who witnessed it sneered the same way.
Why did the Pirate Queen value a man who could be nearly killed by a stray slash?
He doesn't deserve her!
"I'll turn you all to stone!" Hancock roared.
Her eyes glowed purple, and pink mist spread out around her, rolling across the battlefield like a tide.
Wherever it passed, Marines, pirates, weapons, and even the frozen ground were instantly petrified!
Only Mihawk and Vista remained untouched.
"Seven Warlords of the Sea… such an amusing power! Gurarara…" Whitebeard chuckled from the Moby Dick, watching with interest.
"Vista! Stop that crazy woman now! If this continues, the damage will be catastrophic!" Izo, captain of the 16th Division, shouted in alarm.
Too many pirates had already been petrified. Though many Marines were caught too, the losses weighed heavily against Whitebeard's side.
More importantly, the pink mist was still spreading—threatening to swallow everything!
"Is she really the only one who can be dealt with like this? Such a beautiful woman… what a pity. Hawkeye, let's finish this together!" Vista sneered, raising his blade.
Mihawk said nothing, but his slash was already flying.
Two mighty slashes, one emerald and one sapphire, ripped through the petrified ice and soared at Hancock.
"Ha—Hancock!!! Hurry! Why are you moving so slow!?"
Victor's voice cracked in despair. Still too weak to move, he could only watch the attacks close in on her, his chest burning with helpless rage.
BOOM!
The twin slashes engulfed Boa Hancock in radiant light.
When it cleared, she was still standing.
Her arms, wrapped in Armament Haki, were cut and bleeding, but she had blocked the attack head-on.
The Empress was wounded—but unbroken.
"Excuse me, Pirate Queen, but you will not be needed in the next battle," Vista said coldly.
His blade glowed once more. This time, the slash streaked like lightning, carrying his full intent to incapacitate her completely.
Mihawk remained still, only watching. This was no longer his duel.
Then—Mihawk's sharp eyes widened.
A sound thundered across the battlefield. A heartbeat—loud, heavy, impossible for a human.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
"Husband… I can't help you fight them… but I will stay with you until you recover," she whispered, bracing herself.
But she was already exhausted. She raised her arms, covered in Haki, knowing the blow would still wound her gravely.
The slash was nearly upon her.
Hancock was about to be struck.
Then—
A tall figure appeared in front of her in an instant. Faster than the slash itself.
"Husband…!!!" Tears welled in Hancock's eyes.
"Hancock, you've been through enough. Leave the rest to me!"
Victor's voice was calm but resolute.
The slash struck.
He didn't dodge. His cursed blade, the Kitetsu II, crackled with thunder as he swung it downward.
Lightning exploded across the battlefield.
Thunder Magic x Swordsmanship: Thunder Dragon's Fury!